Redgum Statue Walk
The Koondrook Barham Redgum Statue River Walk is an initiative of the local redgum industry and commenced in 2002 with the carving of Alexander “Sandy” Arbuthnot. The walk continued as a work in progress and has now reached 20 redgum statues carved by renowned artists, Kevin Guilders and Angela Polglaze. The statues, carved by chainsaw, highlight local identities and wildlife significant to the region.
To view a copy of the Redgum Statue River Walk brochure including a map click here(PDF, 2MB).
1. Murray River Goanna
Tree hugging goannas live in redgum forests along the Murray River and enjoy secure conservation status. They can weigh up to 20kg, grow to more than two metres long. These goannas are a semi-arboreal species. Powerful tree climbers and fierce predators of small animals. They are carnivores, eat insects, lizards, mammals, nesting birds and carrion. They lay their eggs in termite mounds, use their forked tongues to detect prey. Most goannas are dark in colour, with tones of greys, blacks and greens. Camouflage patterns include bands and stripes to splotches and circles.
2. William Nkuppa Sampson
William, was an Aboriginal stockman who grew up on the Edward River near Moulamein. It was said that as soon as he was able to walk, he could straddle a horse. While employed by the Peppin family, he drove their first mob of merinos from Echuca to Morago and was involved in the classing and breeding of the Peppin Merino bloodline.
3. Roy "The Professor" Higgins
(1938 - 2014: Aged 75 years)
Born in Koondrook at Nurse Rosen`s, Roy had 2,312 wins as a jockey including 108 Group 1 races and 2 Melbourne Cup wins (1956 and 1967). He was an 11-time Jockey Premiership (Melbourne) winner. Roy was one of a handful of jockeys to ride the winners of racing`s Grand Slam – The Golden Slipper, The Cox Plate, The Caulfield Cup and The Melbourne Cup twice on Light Fingers in 1964 and Red Handed in 1967 both for trainer Bart Cummings. Roy`s phenomenal career earned him international acclaim, becoming a respected media personality and supporter of many charities. In June 1974 Higgins was made a member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for Services to ‘’Horse racing as a jockey”. Higgins was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1987.
An inspiration, an icon and a legend.
4. The Wedge-tailed Eagle
The Wedge-tailed Eagle is the largest raptor (bird of prey) in Australia and is the most common of all the world’s large eagles. It has long, fairly broad wings, fully feathered legs, and an unmistakable wedge-shaped tail. It can be easily identified by its tail and size, and is affectionately called a “Wedgie".
The beak is pale pink to cream, the eye brown to dark brown. Their feet are off-white. Young eagles are mid brown in colour with reddish-brown heads and wings. They become progressively blacker for at least the first ten years of their lives. They mostly eat carrion however they do include live prey in their diet (lizards, birds and small mammals). Wedge-tailed eagles are monogamous and mate for life. Breeding Season: April to September; mainly July.
5. Arthur Molin
(1907 - 1993: Aged 86 years)
Arthur Molin was born in England in 1907 and migrated to Australia in 1912.
He moved to Koondrook in 1935 before taking over the Koondrook Petrol Station in 1936 and adding a mechanical business.
Arthur worked seven days a week, all hours.
6. Nurse Elizabeth Rosen
(1882 - 1943: Aged 61 years)
Nurse Rosen established the "Carnarvon" Private Hospital in Koondrook where she attended to many patients and delivered more than 1000 babies. The Nurse Rosen statue is in Apex Park.
7. Australian Pelican
(Pelecanus conspicillatus)
The Australian Pelican is found throughout Australia in freshwater, estuarine and marine wetlands and waterways. The pelican is common to this local area.
8. Alexander Arbuthnot
(1850 - 1914: Aged 64 years)
Mr Alexander ‘Sandy’ Arbuthnot was the founder of the Arbuthnot Sawmill in the late 1800s. At their peak Sandy’s enterprises employed two hundred men, between the sawmill, ship building and timber collecting. The Arbuthnot Sawmill continues to operate on the original sawmill site in Koondrook.
9. John Powell
(1938 - 1990: Aged 52 years)
John Powell tragically died in a tree felling accident in the Koondrook State Forest. John was a man of many great qualities, who loved his family, life, sport and a good yarn.
10. Paddle Steamer Captain
Paddle steamer captains worked long hours and had an enormous knowledge of the Murray River. For many years Barham and Koondrook were important trading stops. For many years Barham and Koondrook were important trading stops on the river-boat journeys. In 1882, a wharf was constructed at Koondrook. A number of paddle steamers and barges were built from locally milled redgum in Koondrook. The Alexander Arbuthnot was built in 1923.
11. Murray Cod
(Maccullochella peeli)
The Murray Cod is renowned as one of Australia’s largest freshwater fish. Murray Cod can be found in many rivers and creeks in the Gannawarra region. The popular native fish has an annual "closed" fishing season to allow for breeding between September 1 and December 1. Murray Cod caught in the NSW river systems has a bag limit of two fish person and size limit of 55cm and 75cm.
12. Laughing Kookaburra
(Dacelo novaeguineae)
The Kookaburra is found throughout eastern Australia. Its chuckling voice is a familiar sound around the redgum forests. the redgum forests of this region. They laugh to advertise the boundaries of their territory, then wait to hear the replies of neighbouring groups. Kookaburras usually laugh longest in the morning and the late afternoon.
13. Sir John Gorton
(1911 - 2002: Aged 90 years)
Sir John Gorton completed university in Oxford but instead of pursuing a career in journalism, he returned to Kangaroo Lake with wife, Bettina and took over his father’s orchard. Gorton enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1940, and trained as a fighter pilot, serving for 4 years. Gorton entered local government after resuming management of the family property, before joining the Liberal Party. On January 10, 1968 he became the 19th Prime Minister of Australia from January 1968 to March 1971 in unusual circumstances, after the presumed drowning of Harold Holt in December 1967.
14. Sidney Carl Percival Reid
(1889 - 1962: Aged 72 years)
Born in Grafton, NSW, Sidney served as the Managing Director of Arbuthnot Sawmills for 44 years from 1917 and oversaw the conversion of the mill from steam to electricity. His many achievements included dairy farming at Gannawarra, tobacco growing and the successful planting of sultana grapes. A tireless community worker, he was secretary of the Koondrook Race Club, Progress Association and both life member and Chairman of the local Hospital Board. Sidney was a generous and charming man.
15.Eastern Grey Kangaroo
(Macropus giganteus)
Eastern Grey Kangaroos are found in the eastern parts of Australia and in Tasmania. They are commonly seen on Gunbower Island and in redgum forests and grazing areas.
16. Stuart Appleby
Stuart Appleby was born in Cohuna in 1971. He resided on a dairy farm where he used to hit golf balls from paddock to paddock as part of his practice regime. Appleby turned professional in 1992 and is a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour.
17. Herbert Keck
(1858 - 1937: Aged 79 years)
Herbert Keck purchased land from the owners of Barham Station in 1911, becoming the first citrus grower in the area.
18. Sir John Monash
(1865 - 1931: Aged 66 years)
Sir John Monash was the chief engineer of the Barham/Koondrook Bridge. The bridge was officially opened in 1904. Monash became one of Australia's foremost experts in reinforced concrete for bridges, railways and other large construction projects. He had great success in the military and in business, and is recognised for his contributions to the community.
19. Pioneer Woman
Pioneering women raised families, cleared land, built fences, tended stock, sowed crops and faced many of the dangers of living on the land alone. They endured basic living conditions in uncomfortable huts distanced from other women by hundreds of kilometres. To survive the tough conditions the pioneer woman needed to be resilient and resourceful.
20. Robert McConnell
(1870 -1965: Aged 95 years)
Robert, one of the first councillors on the newly formed Wakool Council in 1906, oversaw the introduction of electricity, water and sewerage services into the Barham area. Recreational facilities were enhanced by his donation of land.
The statue of Robert McConnell is currently undergoing maintenance and is not on display.